Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan’s poor performance, questions their spot in Champions Trophy 2025
February 22, 2025: Pakistan Faces Harsh Criticism After 60-Run Defeat Against New Zealand
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign started on a disastrous note as they suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their opening match. Despite winning the toss and opting to bowl, Pakistan conceded 320 runs, courtesy of brilliant centuries from Will Young and Tom Latham. In response, their batting lineup faltered, managing only 260 runs before getting bowled out.
The embarrassing loss has sparked widespread criticism, with former cricketer Kamran Akmal taking aim at Pakistan’s poor form and lack of competitiveness on the international stage.
Kamran Akmal’s Scathing Remarks: “Play Zimbabwe and Ireland Instead”
Speaking to ARY News, Kamran Akmal mocked Pakistan’s current standard of cricket and suggested that they should play against Zimbabwe and Ireland instead of competing in a prestigious tournament like the Champions Trophy.
🗣 Kamran Akmal’s Brutal Statement:
“Zimbabwe aur Ireland ki series ho rahi hai, udhar jaayein. Wahan jaake khelein aur agar hum udhar jeette hain toh hum deserve karte hain (Champions Trophy). Humari iss tarah ki cricket ho rahi hai. Itni neeche gir gayi hai humari cricket pichle 6-7 saal mein.”
(Translation: “There’s a series going on between Zimbabwe and Ireland. Go there and play, and only if we win against them should we deserve to be in the Champions Trophy. This is the current state of our cricket. Our standard has fallen drastically over the past 6-7 years.”)
Akmal’s harsh words reflect growing frustration among fans and experts over Pakistan’s declining cricketing standards.
New Zealand’s Tactical Masterclass Leaves Pakistan Exposed
Pakistan had a promising start, reducing New Zealand to 73/3 in the early overs. However, instead of capitalizing on the situation, poor bowling and lack of strategy allowed the Kiwis to build a massive 320/5 total.
Kamran Akmal praised New Zealand’s composure and adaptability:
“Look at their maturity. They took their time, rotated the strike, and started attacking only when they were in control. That’s what a mature team does – they always have a backup plan. Even when Rachin Ravindra got injured, his replacement (Will Young) stepped up and scored a century.”
Pakistan Captain Rizwan Admits Team’s Mistakes
After the match, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan admitted that his team made tactical errors, especially in setting a bowling target.
🗣 Rizwan on Pakistan’s Mistakes:
“We didn’t expect them to set such a big target. We were looking at something around 260. We tried our best, used all tactics, but they played well and built a strong total. The conditions changed, and once Young and Latham settled in, it became easier to bat. Unfortunately, we repeated the same mistakes we made in Lahore.”
What’s Next for Pakistan?
With India up next, Pakistan needs a dramatic turnaround to stay alive in the tournament. However, questions over team selection, batting approach, and leadership continue to haunt them.
Will Pakistan bounce back or will their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign be over before it even begins?
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Pakistan vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy 2025 Pakistan, Kamran Akmal slams Pakistan, Pakistan cricket decline, Rizwan Pakistan captaincy, Pakistan batting collapse, Pakistan team criticism, Pakistan cricket controversy, Champions Trophy latest updates, Pakistan vs India upcoming match
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